The Advisory Board for the Conservation of International Change and Prevention of Smuggling Actions (Cofeposa) Act has confirmed the Centre’s April 22 detention order for Kannada actress Ranya Rao for a yr in reference to the alleged Bengaluru gold smuggling case, and denied her bail at some point of the jail time period.
Her detention was topic to affirmation by the Cofeposa Act Advisory Board.
A supply within the Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) confirmed that the Advisory Board’s sentencing, and mentioned a periodic overview assembly could be held after three months. The imprisonment order can also be relevant to businessman Sahil Sakariya Jain, 26, an alleged hawala vendor and affiliate of Rao, and Telugu actor Virat Konduru alias Tarun Konduru Raju, 36, a US passport holder.
The Central Financial Intelligence Bureau beneath the Ministry of Finance issued the order for the detention of Ranya alias Harshavardini Ranya, 34, beneath the Cofeposa Act on April 22, on the request of the Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI), and following a number of bail rejections by the Particular Court docket for Financial Offences.
The Cofeposa Act Advisory Board in Bengaluru, headed by Karnataka HC choose Justice Okay S Mudgal and comprising Justice E S Indiresh and Justice B S Shyam Prasad, not too long ago confirmed the detention order of Ranya Rao and two others after arguments by counsels for the actress and officers of the Ministry of Finance.
An order have to be served on them by authorities relating to the affirmation of the Centre’s detention order by the Advisory Board, sources mentioned.
In the meantime, her bail plea is scheduled to return up within the Karnataka Excessive Court docket subsequent week. On Might 12, Ranya Rao’s mom, Rohini H P, challenged her daughter’s detention beneath the Cofeposa Act by submitting a habeas corpus plea within the Karnataka Excessive Court docket.
Story continues beneath this advert
The excessive court docket has adjourned the hearings on her bail plea a number of instances whereas awaiting the choice of the Advisory Board. The court docket is scheduled to listen to the habeas corpus plea subsequent week.
Ranya Rao was granted default bail within the Customs Act case wherein she was arrested in March this yr. She has not paid the surety to avail herself of the bail as a result of her detention for a yr beneath the Cofeposa Act.
On March 3, DRI arrested Rao on the Bengaluru airport upon her arrival from Dubai, and recovered 14.2 kg of gold bars valued at greater than Rs 12.56 crore from her possession. On March 9, DRI arrested Konduru.
DRI did not file a chargesheet inside the stipulated timeframe, and he or she remained in custody as a result of ongoing proceedings beneath the Cofeposa Act, which permits for preventive detention of as much as one yr primarily based solely on suspicion of violating international change and anti-smuggling legal guidelines.
Story continues beneath this advert
Investigation revealed Ranya Rao’s suspicious journey sample, having visited Dubai alone 34 instances between 2023 and 2025. Subsequent raids at her residence uncovered gold jewelry value Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in money, indicating the dimensions of the smuggling operation.
Rao additionally faces expenses beneath sections 135 and 104 of the Customs Act, with proceedings beneath Part 108 additionally underway. Her authorized counsel has accused DRI of doc manipulation, and argued that the offences are compoundable.
Konduru was additionally denied bail in April. Though the court docket had granted default bail to each accused on procedural grounds, requiring two sureties every and a Rs 2 lakh bond, they have been prohibited from leaving the nation and warned towards committing such offences once more.